@article{Simone}2020b,

title = {Nanoliposomes in polymeric granules: Novel process strategy to produce stable and versatile delivery systems},

author = {Veronica {De Simone} and Annalisa Dalmoro and Sabrina Bochicchio and Diego Caccavo and Gaetano Lamberti and Paolo Bertoncin and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224720311679?via%3Dihub},

doi = {10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101878},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-07-09},

journal = {Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology},

volume = {59},

pages = {7},

abstract = {Liposomes, due to their mimetic cellular composition, are gaining great attention as release systems for lipophilic and hydrophilic molecules. However, liposomes can present a high tendency to degrade and aggregate into biological fluids and under storage conditions. To overcome these limitations, in this work, a stabilizing strategy consisting in liposomes incorporation into polymeric granules was studied. Wet granulation was adopted to produce granules of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and liposomal suspensions were used as the binder phase. In particular, in this study, three different percentages of liposome load in HPMC granules were investigated (1%, 5% and 10% w/w) focusing the attention on several relevant technological characteristics of the achieved solid particulates: size, flow index, mechanical strength (granules without liposomal inclusions were used as a control). Morphological observations (by TEM) confirmed the presence of intact liposomes in dry HPMC granules; moreover, it was found that the binder phase with the lower liposome concentrations (1%, 5%) did not significantly affect size, flowability and hardness of the lipid-polymer granules. Instead, the granules containing the highest percentage of liposomes (10% w/w) have larger dimensions, harder structure and reduced flowability. Therefore, the followed process strategy, under liposomal concentration restrictions, allowed to obtain both the liposomes stabilization, a not trivial technological issue, and the production of particulates with good solid state properties, useful as a versatile dosage form (lipid carriers in polymer carriers).},

keywords = {Compressibility index, Lipid-polymeric, Simil-microfluidic method, Texture analyses, Wet granulation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2020b,

title = {Microwave Treatments of Cereals: Effects on Thermophysical and Parenchymal-Related Properties},

author = {Anna Angela Barba and Carlo Naddeo and Silvestro Caputo and Gaetano Lamberti and Matteo D'Amore and Annalisa Dalmoro},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/6/711},

doi = {10.3390/foods9060711 },

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-06-01},

journal = {Foods},

volume = {9},

number = {6},

pages = {14},

abstract = {Dielectric heating is one of the most interesting techniques for pest disinfestation. However, most of the literature works give information about the ability of microwave treatments at different power-time conditions to kill insects; less is given about the analysis of matrices structural properties and heat transport. Accordingly, the aim of this work is to investigate the effect of microwave treatments, applied for pest disinfestation, on heat transport behavior and physical/structural properties, such as water uptake capability, mineral losses, texture change, and germination capability, of most consumed cereals in human diet, such as weak wheat, durum wheat, and corn. Two different radiative treatments were performed: one in time-temperature conditions capable of inactivating the weed fauna, and the other at high temperatures of ~150 °C, simulating uncontrolled treatments. Heat transport properties were measured and showed to keep unvaried during both effective and uncontrolled microwave treatments. Instead, grain physical properties were worsened when exposed to high temperatures (reduction of germination ability and texture degradation). The achieved results, on the one hand, provide new structural and heat transport data of cereals after microwave treatments, actually not present in the literature, and on the other, they confirm the importance of correctly performing microwave treatments for an effective disinfestation without affecting matrices physical properties and nutritional features.},

keywords = {cereals; dielectric properties, food sanitization, microwave heating, pest disinfestation, thermal properties},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bochicchio2020b,

title = {Advances in Nanoliposomes Production for Ferrous Sulfate Delivery},

author = {Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba},

editor = {MDPI},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/12/5/445/pdf},

doi = {10.3390/pharmaceutics12050445},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-05-11},

journal = {Pharmaceutics},

volume = {12},

number = {5},

pages = {445},

abstract = {In this study, a continuous bench scale apparatus based on microfluidic fluid dynamic principles was used in the production of ferrous sulfate-nanoliposomes for pharmaceutical/nutraceutical applications, optimizing their formulation with respect to the products already present on the market. After an evaluation of its fluid dynamic nature, the simil-microfluidic (SMF) apparatus was first used to study the effects of the adopted process parameters on vesicles dimensional features by using ultrasonic energy to enhance liposomes homogenization. Subsequently, iron-nanoliposomes were produced at different weight ratios of ferrous sulfate to the total formulation components (0.06, 0.035, 0.02, and 0.01 w/w) achieving, by using the 0.01 w/w, vesicles of about 80 nm, with an encapsulation efficiency higher than 97%, an optimal short- and long-term stability, and an excellent bioavailability in Caco-2 cell line. Moreover, a comparison realized between the SMF method and two more conventional production techniques showed that by using the SMF setup the process time was drastically reduced, and the process yield increased, achieving a massive nanoliposomes production. Finally, duty-cycle sonication was detected to be a scalable technique for vesicles homogenization. },

keywords = {drug delivery, ferrous sulfate, nanoliposome, simil-microfluidic apparatus, sonication},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bochicchio2020,

title = {Simil-Microfluidic Nanotechnology in Manufacturing of Liposomes as Hydrophobic Antioxidants Skin Release Systems},

author = {Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Veronica De Simone and Paolo Bertoncin and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/7/2/22/pdf},

doi = {10.3390/cosmetics7020022},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-03},

journal = {Cosmetics},

volume = {7},

number = {22},

pages = {13},

abstract = {Novel nanotechnologies represent the most attractive and innovative tools to date exploited by cosmetic companies to improve the effectiveness of their formulations. In this context, nanoliposomes have had a great impact in topical preparations and dermocosmetics, allowing the transcutaneous penetration and absorption of several active ingredients and improving the stability of sensitive molecules. Despite the recent boom of this class of delivery systems, their industrial production is still limited by the lack of easily scalable production techniques. In this work, nanoliposomes for the topical administration of vitamin D3, K2, E, and curcumin, molecules with high antioxidant and skin curative properties but unstable and poorly absorbable, were produced through a novel simil-microfluidic technique. The developed high-yield semi continuous method is proposed as an alternative to face the problems linked with low productive conventional methods in order to produce antioxidant formulations with improved features. The novel technique has allowed to obtain a massive production of stable antioxidant vesicles of an 84\textendash145 nm size range, negatively charged, and characterized by high loads and encapsulation efficiencies. The obtained products as well as the developed high-performance technology make the achieved formulations very interesting for potential topical applications in the cosmetics/cosmeceutical field. },

keywords = {antioxidants, cosmeceutics, nanoliposomes, simil-microfluidic technology, transdermal delivery},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2020,

title = {Engineering approaches for drug delivery systems production and characterization},

author = {Anna Angela Barba and Annalisa Dalmoro and Sabrina Bochicchio and Veronica De Simone and Diego Caccavo and Marco Iannone and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517320302519},

doi = {10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119267},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-03-31},

journal = {International Journal of Pharmaceutics},

abstract = {To find and to test the therapeutic effectiveness (and the limited adverse effects) of a new drug is a long and expensive process. It has been estimated a period of ten years and an expense of the order of one billion USD are required. Meanwhile, even if a promising molecule has been identified, there is the need for operative methods for its delivery. The extreme case is given by gene therapy, in which molecules with tremendous in-vitro efficacy cannot be used in practice because of the lack in useful vector systems to deliver them. Most of the recent efforts in pharmaceutical sciences are focused on the development of novel drug delivery systems (DDSs).

In this review, the work done recently on the development and testing of novel DDSs, with particular emphasis on the results obtained by European research, is summarized. In the first section of the review the DDSs are analyzed accordingly with their scale-size: starting from nano-scale (liposomes, nanoparticles), up to the micro-scale (microparticles), until the macroscopic world is reached (granules, matrix systems). In the following two sections, non-conventional testing methods (mechanical methods and bio-relevant dissolution methods) are presented; at last, the importance of mathematical modeling to describe drug release and related phenomena is reported.},

keywords = {drug delivery, Hydrogel, Innovation in Europe, Microvectors, Modeling, Nanovectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2019b,

title = {Coating of Nanolipid Structures by a Novel Simil-Microfluidic Technique: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches },

author = {Anna Angela Barba and Sabrina Bochicchio and Paolo Bertoncin and Gaetano Lamberti and Annalisa Dalmoro},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/9/8/491/htm},

doi = {10.3390/coatings9080491},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-08-02},

journal = {Coatings},

volume = {9},

number = {491},

pages = {1-15},

abstract = {Nanolipid vesicular structures are ideal candidates for the controlled release of various ingredients, from vitamins for nutraceutical purposes to chemoterapic drugs. To improve their stability, permeability, and some specific surface properties, such as mucoadhesiveness, these structures can require a process of surface engineering. The interaction of lipid vesicles with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes seems to be an interesting solution, especially when the negatively charged liposomes are complexed with the cationic chitosan. In this work, a novel simil-microfluidic technique was used to produce both chitosan-coated vesicles and a vegan alternative composed of cholesterol-free liposomes coated by Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Guar-HC). The combination between the experimental approach, based on experimental observations in terms of Z-potential, and size evolutions, and the theoretical approach, based on concepts of saturation, was the methodology applied to define the best polycation concentration to fairly cover (vegan or not) liposomes without aggregation. The smart production of coated nanolipid structures was confirmed by characterizations of morphology, mucoadhesiveness, and stability.},

keywords = {Chitosan, Coated nanoliposomes, Guar guam, Liposome bioadhesive, Liposomi bioadesivi, Muchoadesiveness, Simil-microfluidic technique},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2019,

title = {Lipid Delivery Systems for Nucleic-Acid-Based-Drugs: From Production to Clinical Applications},

author = {Anna Angela Barba and Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/11/8/360},

doi = {10.3390/pharmaceutics11080360},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-07-24},

journal = {Pharmaceutics},

volume = {11},

number = {360},

abstract = {In the last years the rapid development of Nucleic Acid Based Drugs (NABDs) to be used in gene therapy has had a great impact in the medical field, holding enormous promise, becoming “the latest generation medicine” with the first ever siRNA-lipid based formulation approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human use, and currently on the market under the trade name Onpattro™. The growth of such powerful biologic therapeutics has gone hand in hand with the progress in delivery systems technology, which is absolutely required to improve their safety and effectiveness. Lipid carrier systems, particularly liposomes, have been proven to be the most suitable vehicles meeting NABDs requirements in the medical healthcare framework, limiting their toxicity, and ensuring their delivery and expression into the target tissues. In this review, after a description of the several kinds of liposomes structures and formulations used for in vitro or in vivo NABDs delivery, the broad range of siRNA-liposomes production techniques are discussed in the light of the latest technological progresses. Then, the current status of siRNA-lipid delivery systems in clinical trials is addressed, offering an updated overview on the clinical goals and the next challenges of this new class of therapeutics which will soon replace traditional drugs},

keywords = {clinical trials, liposomes, Micro and Nano Vectors, NABDs, siRNA},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2019,

title = {Micronutrients encapsulation in enhanced nanoliposomal carriers by a novel preparative technology },

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Sabrina Bochicchio and Gaetano Lamberti and Paolo Bertoncin and Barbara Janssens and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/ra/c9ra03022k},

doi = {10.1039/C9RA03022K},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-06-25},

journal = {RSC Advances},

volume = {9},

pages = {19800-19812},

abstract = {Micronutrients administration by fortification of staple and complementary foods is a followed strategy to fight malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and related pathologies. There is a great industrial interest in preparation of formulations for joint administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 for providing bone support, promoting heart health and helping boost immunity. To respond to this topic, in this work, uncoated nanoliposomes loaded with vitamin D3 and K2 were successfully prepared, by using a novel, high-yield and semi continuous technique based on simil-microfluidic principles. By the same technique, to promote and to enhance mucoadhesiveness and stability of the produced liposomal structures, chitosan was tested as covering material. By this way polymer\textendashlipid hybrid nanoparticles, encapsulating vitamin D3 and vitamin K2, with improved features in terms of stability, loading and mucoadhesiveness were produced for potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.},

keywords = {Drug Delivery Systems, Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Simone}2019,

title = {Effect of binder and load solubility properties on HPMC granules produced by wet granulation process},

author = {Veronica {De Simone} and Annalisa Dalmoro and Gaetano Lamberti and Diego Caccavo and Matteo D'Amore and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1773224718311043},

doi = {10.1016/j.jddst.2018.12.030},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-02-01},

journal = {Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology},

volume = {49},

pages = {513-520},

abstract = {Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is one of the most important hydrophilic ingredients used in hydrogel matrices preparation (tablets or granules). In this work, HPMC was used to produce granules loaded with hydrophilic and hydrophobic active molecules to investigate their possible use as release dosage forms for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Unloaded and vitamins loaded HPMC granules were produced by wet granulation to investigate the effect of molecule solubility and granulation liquid type, on physical, mechanical and release properties. Water-soluble vitamin B12 and water-insoluble vitamin D2 were used as model molecules. Due to their different solubility, two granulation liquid phases were also used: distilled water for granules with B12, and ethanol-water for granules with D2. Results showed that use of ethanol in the liquid phase reduces the granulation yield and produces granules having a less defined shape, a smaller mean size, a less hard structure and a worse flowability. Moreover, ethanol slightly enhances the polymer erosion rate. Results also emphasized that the vitamins solubility does not affect either the physical and the mechanical properties of the produced granules. However, it plays a significant relevant role on the molecule release mechanism, being B12 and D2 were released by diffusion and erosion mechanism, respectively.},

keywords = {Granulation, HPMC},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bochicchio2018,

title = {Design and production of hybrid nanoparticles with polymeric-lipid shell\textendashcore structures: conventional and next-generation approaches},

author = {Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Paolo Bertoncin and Gaetano Lamberti and Rouslan I. Moustafine and Anna Angela Barba },

url = {https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/RA/C8RA07069E#!divAbstract},

doi = {10.1039/c8ra07069e},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-09-27},

journal = {RSC Advances},

volume = {8},

pages = {34614\textendash34624},

abstract = {Liposomes constitute a class of prominent drug delivery systems due their cell-mimetic behaviour. Despite

their high biocompatibility, biodegradability and low intrinsic toxicity, their poor stability in biological fluids

as well as in stock conditions (high tendency to degrade or aggregate) have led to new approaches for

liposome stabilization (e.g., surface covering with polymers). Here, liposomes were enwrapped by the

natural biocompatible polymer chitosan to achieve stable shell\textendashcore nanostructures. Covered

nanoliposomes were produced using an innovative continuous method based on microfluidic principles.

The produced hybrid polymeric-lipid nanoparticles were characterized in terms of structural properties,

size and stability. Moreover, phenomenological aspects in formation of nanoliposomal vesicles and

chitosan layering, product quality (structure, size) and manufacturing yield related to this novel method

were compared with those of the conventional dropwise method and the obtained products. The

proposed simil-microfluidic method led to the production of stable and completely chitosan-covered

liposomes with a shell\textendashcore nanostructure that avoided the disadvantages inherent in the conventional

method (which are time-consuming and/or require bulky and more expensive equipment).},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2018b,

title = {Polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles as enhanced indomethacin delivery systems},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Sabrina Bochicchio and Shamil F. Nasibullin and Paolo Bertoncin and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba and Rouslan I. Moustafine},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098718302331},

doi = {10.1016/j.ejps.2018.05.014},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-08-30},

journal = {European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences},

volume = {121},

pages = {16-28},

abstract = {Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), i.e. indomethacin used for rheumatoid arthritis and non-rheumatoid inflammatory diseases, are known for their injurious actions on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Mucosal damage can be avoided by using nanoscale systems composed by a combination of liposomes and biodegradable natural polymer, i.e. chitosan, for enhancing drug activity.



Aim of this study was to prepare chitosan-lipid hybrid delivery systems for indomethacin dosage through a novel continuous method based on microfluidic principles. The drop-wise conventional method was also applied in order to investigate the effect of the two polymeric coverage processes on the nanostructures features and their interactions with indomethacin. Thermal-physical properties, mucoadhesiveness, drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro release behavior in simulated GI fluids and stability in stocking conditions were assayed and compared, respectively, for the uncoated and chitosan-coated nanoliposomes prepared by the two introduced methods.



The prepared chitosan-lipid hybrid structures, with nanometric size, have shown high indomethacin loading (about 10%) and drug encapsulation efficiency up to 99%. TEM investigation has highlighted that the developed novel simil-microfluidic method is able to put a polymeric layer, surrounding indomethacin loaded nanoliposomes, thicker and smoother than that achievable by the drop-wise method, improving their storage stability. Finally, double pH tests have confirmed that the chitosan-lipid hybrid nanostructures have a gastro retentive behavior in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids thus can be used as delivery systems for the oral-controlled release of indomethacin.



Based on the present results, the simil-microfluidic method, working with large volumes, in a rapid manner, without the use of drastic conditions and with a precise control over the covering process, seems to be the most promising method for the production of suitable indomethacin delivery system, with a great potential in industrial manufacturing.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2018,

title = {On the relevance of thermophysic characterizations in microwave treatments of legumes},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Carlo Naddeo and Silvestro Caputo and Gaetano Lamberti and Liberata Guadagno and Matteo D'Amore and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/FO/C7FO01488K},

doi = {10.1039/C7FO01488K},

issn = {2042-650X},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-03-01},

journal = {Food \& Function},

volume = {9},

number = {3},

pages = {1816-1828},

abstract = {This study is focused on the characterization of thermal behavior and physical properties of most consumed legumes in daily diet such as beans, lentils and chickpeas. Because of a lack of knowledge in literature about the effect of microwave treatments on legumes, characterization protocols have been applied before and after subjecting them to microwave irradiation suitable for pest disinfestation. The effects of two different radiative treatments, one suitable to inactivate the infesting fauna, and one simulating uncontrolled treatments, characterized by very high temperatures, were tested. The impacts of microwave treatments on legumes, in terms of thermal behavior, germination capability, tannin and total polyphenols composition and other physical properties (water uptake capability, texture change, mineral losses), after typical soaking cooking processes, are also performed. Examined legumes thermal properties were found comparable for all samples. Similarly, no significative differences in antinutritional factors, polyphenols and tannins, content among all samples were detected. Under structural point of view, samples exposed to high temperatures have been shown a texture degradation and in turn, losses of mineral nutrient during soaking processes. Moreover, their germinative capability was drastically reduced. These latter results highlighted how is important to correctly perform radiative microwave process in order to both assure an effective and safe disinfestation and avoid nutritional values losses and physical properties worsening.},

keywords = {legumes, microwave, Tecnagri, thermophysic},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{{DeSimone}2018,

title = {HPMC granules by wet granulation process: Effect of vitamin load on physicochemical, mechanical and release properties},

author = {Veronica {De Simone} and Annalisa Dalmoro and Gaetano Lamberti and Diego Caccavo and Matteo D'Amore and Anna Angela Barba },

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861717313425},

doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.11.056},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-02-01},

journal = {Carbohydrate Polymers},

volume = {181},

pages = {939-947},

abstract = {Due to its versatile properties, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is largely used in many applications and deeply studied in the various  elds such as pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, agriculture, food, water puri cation. In this work, vitamin B12 loaded HPMC granules were produced to investigate their potential application as nutraceutical products. To this aim the impact of vitamin load on physico-chemical, mechanical and release properties of granules, achieved by wet granulation process, was investigated. In particular, three different loads of B12 (1%, 2.3% and 5% w/w) were assayed. Unloaded granules (used as control) and loaded granules were dried, sieved, and then the suitable fraction for practical uses, 0.45\textendash2 mm in size, was fully characterized. Re- sults showed that the vitamin incorporation of 5% reduced the granulation performance in the range size of 0.45\textendash2 mm and led granules with higher porosity, more rigid and less elastic structures compared to unloaded granules and those loaded at 1% and 2.3% of B12. Vitamin release kinetics of fresh and aged granules were roughly found the same trends for all the prepared lots; however, the vitamin B12 was released more slowly when added with a load at 1% w/w, suggesting a better incorporation.},

keywords = {Granulation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{NPC01,

title = {Encapsulation of Active Molecules in Microparticles Based on Natural Polysaccharides},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Sara Cascone and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {http://www.naturalproduct.us/index.asp

https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Dalmoro-et-al-NPC-126-863-866-2017-Abstract-1.pdf},

issn = {1934-578X},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-07-31},

journal = {Natural Product Communications},

volume = {12},

number = {6},

pages = {863-866},

abstract = {This mini-review is focused on an engineering approach to produce polysaccharides-based microparticles for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes. A brief introduction about the fundamental properties of polysaccharides and their use as microsystems in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics, and a summary of the most important methods of preparation are described. Then, a novel method based on the ultrasonic atomization of solutions of the two most used polysaccharides, alginate and chitosan, followed by ionotropic gelation to produce enteric microsystems for oral administration and, in particular, the basic mechanisms of the encapsulation of molecules with different size and hydrophilicity, are investigated. This mini-review will show therefore the pathway to correctly design a polysaccharide microcarrier for the encapsulation of active molecules with different properties: from the choice of materials features, to the selection and the optimization of production methods with the aim to reduce costs and energy (ionotropic gelation coupled to ultrasonic atomization), to the control of the final carrier size (by purposely developed predictive models), at last to the optimization of encapsulation properties (predicting by model the drug leakage and providing different solutions to avoid it).},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors, microencapsulation, ultrasonic atomization},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{NPC02,

title = {Modeling of the behavior of natural polysaccharides hydrogels for bio-pharma applications},

author = {Diego Caccavo and Sara Cascone and Gaetano Lamberti and Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {http://www.naturalproduct.us/index.asp

https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Caccavo-et-al-NPC-126-867-871-2017-Abstract.pdf},

issn = {1934-578X},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-07-31},

journal = {Natural Product Communications},

volume = {12},

number = {6},

pages = {867-871},

abstract = {Hydrogels, even if not exclusively obtained from natural sources, are widely used for pharmaceuticals and for biomedical applications. The reasons for their uses are their biocompatibility and the possibility to obtain systems and devices with different properties, due to variable characteristics of the materials. In order to effectively design and produce these systems and devices, two main ways are available: i) trial-and-error process, at least guided by experience, during which the composition of the system and the production steps are changed in order to get the desired behavior; ii) production process guided by the a-priori simulation of the systems’ behavior, thanks to proper tuned mathematical models of the reality. Of course the second approach, when applicable, allows tremendous savings in term of human and instrumental resources.

In this mini-review, several modeling approaches useful to describe the behavior of natural polysaccharide-based hydrogels in bio-pharma applications are reported. In particular, reported case histories are: i) the size calculation of micro-particles obtained by ultrasound assisted atomization; ii) the release kinetics from core-shell micro-particles, iii) the solidification behavior of blends of synthetic and natural polymers for gel paving of blood vessels, iv) the drug release from hydrogel-based tablets. This material can be seen as a guide toward the use of mathematical modeling in bio-pharma applications. 

},

keywords = {Hydrogel Characterization, Hydrogel Modeling, Hydrogels, Mathematical modeling, Modeling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Simone}2017,

title = {Central Composite Design in HPMC granulation and correlations between product properties and process parameters},

author = {Veronica {De Simone} and Annalisa Dalmoro and Gaetano Lamberti and Matteo D'Amore and Anna Angela Barba},

url = {http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2017/NJ/C7NJ01280B#!divAbstract},

doi = {10.1039/C7NJ01280B},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-07-21},

journal = {New Journal of Chemistry},

volume = {41},

number = {14},

pages = {6504-6513},

abstract = {Particulate solids have a great interest in many industrial fields for both marketing reasons and technological aspects. In this study granular systems were achieved by wet granulation process using HydroxyPropyl MethylCellulose (HPMC) and distilled water as binder phase. Particulates with a defined size (450-2000 µm) and good flowability together with a high granulation process yield to reduce manufacturing scrap, were produced. To this aim a bench scale low-shear rate granulator apparatus was used; three process parameters were varied (impeller rotation speed, binder volume at constant mass, binder flow rate) and, for each parameter, three intensities have been used. HPMC granules production was planned by the Central Composite Design (CCD) statistical protocol, which has allowed to minimize the number of runs to perform for obtaining information about the relationship between granules properties and process parameters. The produced granules were stabilized by a dedicated dynamic drying apparatus, then separated by sieving and then characterized in terms of size and flowability properties. The results of the experimental campaign have been used to develop semi-empirical correlations between granulated products properties and process parameters. A second-order polynomial law has shown the best comparison between experimental data and model predicted values. These correlations can constitute a reliable tool to know more on the effect of operative parameters changes in HMPC or similar particulate solids production.},

keywords = {Granulation, HPMC},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2017,

title = {Hydrophilic drug encapsulation in shell-core microcarriers by two stage polyelectrolyte complexation method},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Alexander Y. Sitenkov and Sara Cascone and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba and Rouslan I. Moustafine},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851731631198X},

doi = {10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.12.056},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-02-25},

journal = {International Journal of Pharmaceutics},

volume = {518},

number = {1-2},

pages = {50\textendash58},

abstract = {In this study a protocol exploiting the combination of the ultrasonic atomization and the complexation between polyelectrolytes was developed to efficiently encapsulate a hydrophilic chemotherapeutic agent essentially used in the treatment of colon cancer, 5-fluorouracil, in enteric shell-core alginate-based microcarriers. The atomization assisted by ultrasound allowed to obtain small droplets by supplying low energy and avoiding drug degradation. In particular microcarriers were produced in a home-made apparatus where both the core (composed of alginate, drug, and Pluronic F127) and shell (composed of only alginate) feed were separately sent to the coaxial ultrasonic atomizer where they were nebulized and placed in contact with the complexation bulk. With the aim to obtain microstructured particles of alginate encapsulating 5-fluorouracil, different formulations of the first complexation bulk were tested; at last an emulsion made of a calcium chloride aqueous solution and dichloromethane allowed to reach an encapsulation efficiency of about 50%. This result can be considered very interesting considering that in literature similar techniques gave 5-fluorouracil encapsulation efficiencies of about 10%.



Since a single complexation stage was not able to assure microcarriers gastroresistance, the formulation of a second complexation bulk was evaluated. The solution of cationic and pH-insoluble Eudragit® RS 100 in dichloromethane was chosen as bulk of second-stage complexation obtaining good enteric properties of shell-core microcarriers, i.e. a 5-FU cumulative release at pH 1 (simulating gastric pH) lower than 35%. The formation of interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) between countercharged polymers and the chemical stability of 5-FU in microcarriers were confirmed by FTIR analysis, the presence of an amorphous dispersion of 5-FU in prepared microparticles was also confirmed by DSC. Finally, shell-core enteric coated microcarriers encapsulating 5-fluorouracil were used to prepare tablets, which can be potentially used as oral administration dosage systems for their 5-fluorouracil slower release.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{D'Apolito2016,

title = {Microfluidic investigation of the effect of liposome surface charge on drug delivery in microcirculation},

author = {Rosa D'Apolito and Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Stefano Guido and Giovanna Tomaiuolo},

url = {https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/08.-DApolito-et-al-CDD-142-231-238-2017.pdf

http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-drug-delivery/volume/14/issue/2/page/231/},

doi = {10.2174/1567201813666160813172047},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-02-08},

issuetitle = {NEW TRENDS IN GENE THERAPY: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO SIRNAS CONTROLLED DELIVERY},

journal = {Current Drug Delivery},

volume = {14},

number = {2},

pages = {231 - 238},

abstract = {Nano-carrier drug transport in blood microcirculation is one of the hotspots of current research in drug development due to many advantages over traditional therapies, such as reduced side-effects, target delivery, controlled release, improved pharmacokinetics and therapeutic index. Despite the substantial efforts made in the design of nanotherapeutics, the big majority of the used strategies failed to overcome the biological barriers to drug transport encountered in human microvasculature, such as transport by blood flow via the microcirculatory network and margination, the mechanism according to which particles migrate along vessel radius to the wall. In fact, drug transport efficiency in microvasculature is affected by both the particulate nature of blood and drug carrier properties, such as size, shape and surface charge. 

In this work, the effect of the surface charge of liposomes on their margination in blood flow in microcapillaries was experimentally evaluated. By high-speed video microscopy and image analysis it was found that the two custom-made liposomes (one neuter and the other positively charged) tend to drift laterally, moving towards the wall and accumulating in the cell-free layer. In particular, neuter and cationic liposomes showed a comparable margination propensity, suggesting that the presence of blood cells governs the flow behavior independently on liposome surface charge.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bochicchio2016b,

title = {New preparative approaches for micro and nano drug delivery carriers},

author = {Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Matteo D'Amore and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/05.-Bochicchio-et-al-CDD-142-203-215-2017.pdf

http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-drug-delivery/volume/14/issue/2/page/203/},

doi = {10.2174/1567201813666160628093724},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-02-08},

issuetitle = {NEW TRENDS IN GENE THERAPY: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO SIRNAS CONTROLLED DELIVERY},

journal = {Current Drug Delivery},

volume = {14},

number = {2},

pages = {203 - 215},

abstract = {The full success of pharmacological therapies is strongly depending from the use of suitable, efficient and smart drug delivery systems (DDSs). Thus DDSs development is one of the main challenges in pharmaceutical industry both to achieve tailored carrier systems based on drug features and to promote manufacturing innovations to reduce energetic resources, emissions, wastes and risks. Main functions of an ideal DDS are: to protect loaded active molecules from degradation in physiological environments; to deliver them in a controlled manner and towards a specific organ or tissue, to allow the maintenance of the drug level in the body within therapeutic window. Smart features, such as those able to induce active molecule release upon the occurrence of specific physiological stimuli, are also desirable. Under the manufacturing point of view, the current industrial scenery is obliged to respond to the increasing market requirements and to the mandatory rules in sustainable productions such as raw material and energy savings.

In this work a general framework on drug delivery systems preparation techniques is presented. In particular two sections on innovation in preparative approaches carried out are detailed. These latter involve the use of microwave and ultrasonic energy applied in the production of polymeric and lipidic delivery systems on micro- and nanometric scale. The novelties of these preparative approaches are emphasized and examples of developed drug delivery carriers, loaded with vitamins and drug mimicking siRNA, are shown.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2016b,

title = { Injectable chitosan/b-glycerophosphate system for sustained release: gelation study, structural investigation and erosion tests},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Michela Abrami and Barbara Galzerano and Sabrina Bochicchio and Anna Angela Barba and Mario Grassi and Domenico Larobina},

url = {https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/06.-Dalmoro-et-al-CDD-142-216-223-2017.pdf



http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-drug-delivery/volume/14/issue/2/page/216/



},

doi = {10.2174/1567201813666160721142202},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-02-08},

issuetitle = {NEW TRENDS IN GENE THERAPY: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO SIRNAS CONTROLLED DELIVERY},

journal = {Current Drug Delivery},

volume = {14},

number = {2},

pages = {216 - 223},

abstract = {Hydrogels can constitute reliable delivery systems of drugs, including those based on nucleic acids (NABDs) such as small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA). Their nature, structure, and response to physiological or external stimuli strongly influence the delivery mechanisms of entrapped active molecules, and, in turns, their possible uses in pharmacological and biomedical applications. In this study a thermo-gelling chitosan/β-glycero-phosphate system has been optimized in order to assess its use as injectable system able to: i) gelling at physiological pH and temperature, and ii) modulate the release of included active ingredients. To this aim we first analyzed the effect of acetic acid concentration on the gelation temperature. We then found the “optimized composition”, namely, the one in which the Tgel is equal to the physiological temperature. The resulting gel was tested, by low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), to evaluate its average mesh-size, which can affect release kinetics of loaded drug. Finally, films of gelled chitosan, loaded with a model drug, have been tested in vitro to monitor their characteristic times, i.e. diffusion and erosion time, when they are exposed to a medium mimicking a physiological environment (buffer solution at pH 7.4). Results display that the optimized system is deemed to be an ideal candidate as injectable gelling material for a sustained release.},

keywords = {Hydrogel Characterization},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2016b,

title = {In situ coronary stent paving by Pluronic F127\textendashalginate gel blends: formulation and erosion tests},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Gabriele Grassi and Mario Grassi and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbm.b.33425/abstract;jsessionid=31C6676EE270B6362CB149075EE37B5F.f01t01},

doi = {10.1002/jbm.b.33425},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-07-01},

journal = {Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials},

volume = {104},

number = {5},

pages = {1013-22},

abstract = {In this work the development of an experimental protocol to perform the in situ gel-paving of coronary stent is presented. Biocompatible aqueous blends of Pluronic F127 and sodium alginates are used as potential drug dosage system for pharmacological in situ treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis. Pluronic F127/alginate aqueous blend has the unique characteristic to be liquid at room condition and to form gel at physiological temperature. The proposed protocol is based on the blend injection on stent wall previously implanted in a flexible silicon pipe mimicking the coronary artery. Injected blend is warmed up until human body temperature achieving a soft gel, then it is reticulated by copper bivalent ions to obtain an hard gel. To test the gel paving resistance to erosion phenomena when it is exposed to fluid flux (i.e. blood flux) a dedicated device, (the Simulated Artery Device, SAD), was built to simulate the human circulatory apparatus. The SAD is an hydraulic circuit in which a buffer solution (at pH 7.4) was fluxed by a peristaltic pump through the pipe hosting the covered stent. Erosion tests were performed monitoring, by gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods, the residual mass anchored to stent mesh after given times. The obtained results showed that the in situ gel-paving developed protocol was efficacious and reliable. The gel-paving was completely eroded in a time of the same order of magnitude of the physiological period required to restore the coronary lesion (subsequent to the atheroma removal) and of a pharmacological therapy to inhibit the in-stent-restenosis pathology. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2015.},

keywords = {coronary stent, drug delivery, erosion phenomena, gel erosion, pluronic/alginate blends},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2016,

title = {Ultrasonic atomization and polyelectrolyte complexation to produce gastroresistant shell\textendashcore microparticles},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Alexander Y. Sitenkov and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba and Rouslan I. Moustafine},

url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.42976/abstract},

doi = {10.1002/app.42976},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-10},

journal = {Journal of Applied Polymer Science},

volume = {133},

number = {42976},

abstract = {In this study ultrasound-assisted atomization technique was combined with two-stages polyelectrolyte complexation to produce enteric shell\textendashcore microparticles encapsulating a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory gastrolesive active ingredient indomethacin. In particular, a solution of the anionic biopolymer alginate, containing indomethacin, was sprayed in fine droplets which were complexed with a cationic (meth)acrylate copolymer, Eudragit® E 100, which, in turn, was complexed by the anionic copolymer Eudragit® L30D-55. The first complexation stage was applied to achieve a high drug encapsulation efficiency; the second one to assure good gastroresistance feature. The novel protocol has been found more effective in terms of loading, encapsulation efficiency, and enteric properties during in vitro release tests, than conventional procedures which involved alginate cross-linking by charged ions. Furthermore ultrasonic atomization\textendashpolyelectrolytes complexation preparation approach was performed using mild conditions, aqueous solutions, in the absence of organic solvents and chemical cross-linkers. },

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Cavallaro2015,

title = {PHEA-PLA biocompatible nanoparticles by technique of solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions.},

author = { Gennara Cavallaro and Emanuela Fabiola Craparo and Carla Sardo and Gaetano Lamberti and Anna Angela Barba and Annalisa Dalmoro},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517315302519},

doi = {10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.09.050},

issn = {1873-3476},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-09-01},

journal = {International journal of pharmaceutics},

volume = {495},

number = {2},

pages = {719-727},

abstract = {Nanocarriers of amphiphilic polymeric materials represent versatile delivery systems for poorly water soluble drugs. In this work the technique of solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions was applied to produce nanovectors based on new amphiphilic copolymer, the $alpha$,$beta$-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide - polylactic acid (PHEA - PLA), purposely synthesized to be used in the controlled release of active molecules poorly soluble in water. To this aim an amphiphilic derivative of PHEA, a hydrophilic polymer, was synthesized by derivatization of the polymeric backbone with hydrophobic grafts of polylactic acid (PLA). The achieved copolymer was thus used to produce nanoparticles loaded with $alpha$ tocopherol (vitamin E) adopted as lipophilic model molecule. Applying a protocol based on solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions assisted by ultrasonic energy and optimizing the emulsification process (solvent selection/separation stages), PHEA-PLA nanostructured particles with total $alpha$ tocopherol entrapment efficiency (100%), were obtained. The drug release is expected to take place in lower times with respect to PLA due to the presence of the hydrophilic PHEA, therefore the produced nanoparticles can be used for semi- long term release drug delivery systems.},

keywords = {Biopolymer, Micro and Nano Vectors, multiple emulsions, nanoparticles, solvent evaporation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2015b,

title = {Qualit\`{a} ed efficienza con l’uso di microonde nel trattamento di alimenti},

author = {Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Silvestro Caputo },

url = {https://www.gruppotpp.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dalmoro_et_al_ta_2015.pdf

http://www.interprogettied.com/tecnologie-alimentari-n2-marzo-2015/},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-03-01},

journal = {Tecnologie Alimentari},

volume = {2},

pages = {32-36},

abstract = {L’obiettivo primario dei processi di sanitizzazione e di trasformazione \`{e} quello di rendere gli alimenti conservabili nel tempo, edibili e pi\`{u} gustosi. Questo scopo non pu\`{o} per\`{o} essere disgiunto da fattori importanti quali il mantenimento del loro patrimonio nutritivo e la sostenibilit\`{a} di processo. Da ci\`{o} l’interesse verso tecnologie pi\`{u} efficaci e allo stesso tempo meno invasive, da applicare per ottenere prodotti alimentari di elevata qualit\`{a}. },

keywords = {Tecnagri},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2015a,

title = {Liposoluble vitamin encapsulation in shell\textendashcore microparticles produced by ultrasonic atomization and microwave stabilization},

author = { Anna Angela Barba and Annalisa Dalmoro and Matteo D'Amore and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002364381500403X},

doi = {10.1016/j.lwt.2015.05.040},

issn = {00236438},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {LWT - Food Science and Technology},

volume = {64},

number = {1},

pages = {149--156},

abstract = {Encapsulation may protect unstable, fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). However, encapsulation by the solvent extraction and/or evaporation techniques can require toxic organic solvents, which greatly increase processing costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on ergocalciferol encapsulation by a combination of the ionic gelation method with the ultrasonic atomization and microwave drying. Optimization of manufacturing parameters included the addition of pluronic-F127 to the core solution at 1.5% w/w to increase the encapsulation efficiency to nearly 92%, greatly improving performance compared to Tween 80 at 0.5% w/w. Microwave treatment at 230 W promoted the recovery of 100% of the ergocalciferol and reduced drying times to about 30 min, while 690 W degraded 40% of the D2. In contrast, the conventional heating degraded 17% of the ergocalciferol during 12 h of processing. By all the applied methods, microparticles were produced with similar gastoresistance properties of less than 10% release at pH of 1.0, to nearly 100% release at pH of 6.8 and 240 min of dissolution. Analysis showed limited ergocalciferol degradation after 5 months of storage.},

keywords = {drug delivery, Micro and Nano Vectors, Microwave drying, Shell{\textendash}core microparticles, Ultrasonic energy, Vitamins},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2015,

title = {Microwave technology applied in post-harvest treatments of cereals and legumes},

author = { Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Silvestro Caputo and Francesco Marra and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://www.aidic.it/cet/15/44/003.pdf},

doi = {10.3303/CET1544003},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {Chemical Engineering Transaction},

volume = {44},

pages = {13--18},

abstract = {For agricultural purposes microwave heating is an emerging technology today successfully applied in postharvest disinfestation treatments of many agricultural products, such as cereals and legumes, susceptible of degradation due to the presence of natural infesting fauna. Microwave irradiation is proposed as an effective alternative to chemical methods of disinfestation which can be characterized by severe side effects. Extensive studies focused on disinfestation treatments assisted by microwave have proved their effectiveness. Overall goal of the present research is to point out correlations between thermo-physic properties and irradiation conditions (power, time to exposure, load configuration) to stabilize cereals and legumes in short time without damages of structures and nutritive features. In this work, two kinds of agro-foods, weak wheat and beans, were undergone to microwave heating and several physical properties, devoted to control structural possible changes, were investigated on irradiated samples. The achieved results show that the applied irradiation protocol globally does not affect water uptake phenomena in swelling and cooking treatments, peel hardness and germination capability of seeds.},

keywords = {Tecnagri},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2014a,

title = {Random l-lactide/$epsilon$-caprolactone copolymers as drug delivery materials},

author = { Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Marina Lamberti and Mina Mazzeo and Vincenzo Venditto and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10853-014-8317-x},

doi = {10.1007/s10853-014-8317-x},

issn = {0022-2461},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-09-01},

journal = {Journal of Materials Science},

volume = {49},

number = {17},

pages = {5986--5996},

publisher = {Springer US},

abstract = {In this work, the degradation phenomena and the release kinetics of an active molecule from matrices systems made of random copolymers of $epsilon$-caprolactone (CL) and l-lactide (LA) were investigated by exposing the matrices, shaped as thin films, to simulated physiological environments. $alpha$-tocopherol was incorporated into the films as hydrophobic model molecule with the aim to investigate both its release pattern and its effect on erosion phenomena. In particular, the films have been kept at controlled conditions (temperature, stirring, pH) and they were characterized in terms of weight loss, water uptake, thermal properties, and change of number average molecular weight, in order to explain the molecule release kinetics and the degradation pathways of the copolymers. The main findings of this study are that the erosion phenomena take place significantly only when a critical value of the molecular mass was obtained in the sample; that the presence of the drug stabilizes the matrix and it decreases the rate of molecular mass decrease; and that crystallinity, reducing the chain mobility, causes lower erosion rates.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Dalmoro2014,

title = {Single-Pot Semicontinuous Bench Scale Apparatus To Produce Microparticles},

author = { Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Matteo D'Amore and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie403308q},

doi = {10.1021/ie403308q},

issn = {0888-5885},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-02-01},

journal = {Industrial \& Engineering Chemistry Research},

volume = {53},

number = {7},

pages = {2771--2780},

publisher = {ACS Publications},

abstract = {This work presents both the design of a novel process to produce microparticles with a shell−core structure and a bench scale apparatus purposely realized. The developed process was designed to respond to mandatory needs of process intensification. It involved the coupling of two emergent technologies: atomization assisted by ultrasonic energy and microwave heating. The former was used to atomize polymeric solutions; the latter was applied to stabilize the produced droplets by drying. Both operations were performed in the same vessel with the aim to have a single-pot process chamber and were carried out by a semicontinuous procedure. Basic design criteria and advantages of the ultrasonic−microwave coupled operations in the realized apparatus are presented and discussed. Results of testing and of operating runs to produce shell−core microparticles are also reported, emphasizing the main features of the produced particles.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2014c,

title = {Biocompatible nano-micro-particles by solvent evaporation from multiple emulsions technique},

author = { Anna Angela Barba and Annalisa Dalmoro and Matteo D'Amore and Clara Vascello and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10853-014-8224-1},

doi = {10.1007/s10853-014-8224-1},

issn = {0022-2461},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Materials Science},

volume = {49},

number = {14},

pages = {5160--5170},

publisher = {Springer US},

abstract = {In this study, a method based on a multiple emulsions system was developed for the production of polymeric nano and micro-vectors. The possibility to apply an unified preparation technique to different polymers, such as polyesters [polycaprolactone, poly-dl-lactide, poly(dl-lactide-co-caprolactone) = 70/30] and polyacrylates [poly(methylmethacrylate\textendashacrylic acid) = 73/27], loaded with different model molecules (budesonide, tamoxifen, and $alpha$-tocopherol) was explored. After selecting the best operating conditions, especially for emulsification and separation, the technique proved to be readily adaptable for production of both nano and micro-particles with different morphologies, depending on type of polymer, and consequently on solvent used for solubilization: nano-particles, with a round shape and a smooth surface, for polyesters, otherwise micro-particles for the polyacrylate polymer, owing to the presence of hydrophilic co-solvents, that caused both an easy coalescence between the oil and water phases, thus enlarged particles size, and a high porosity. Even the yield of encapsulation was influenced by the presence of hydrophilic co-solvents, causing a higher yield for nano-vectors. Polyesters-based nano-vectors showed release times of molecules, linked to their degradation time, higher than 8 months that make them useful to formulate injectable or implantable drug delivery systems. Polyacrylate-based micro-vectors showed an enteric behavior, interesting for designing solid pharmaceutical formulations for oral delivery. Therefore, the technique demonstrated to assure a broad application in drug delivery research.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2014a,

title = {Ultrasonic energy in liposome production: process modelling and size calculation},

author = { Anna Angela Barba and Sabrina Bochicchio and Gaetano Lamberti and Annalisa Dalmoro},

url = {http://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=c3sm52879k},

doi = {10.1039/c3sm52879k},

issn = {1744-683X},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Soft Matter},

volume = {10},

number = {15},

pages = {2574},

publisher = {The Royal Society of Chemistry},

abstract = {The use of liposomes in several fields of biotechnology, as well as in pharmaceutical and food sciences is continuously increasing. Liposomes can be used as carriers for drugs and other active molecules. Among other characteristics, one of the main features relevant to their target applications is the liposome size. The size of liposomes, which is determined during the production process, decreases due to the addition of energy. The energy is used to break the lipid bilayer into smaller pieces, then these pieces close themselves in spherical structures. In this work, the mechanisms of rupture of the lipid bilayer and the formation of spheres were modelled, accounting for how the energy, supplied by ultrasonic radiation, is stored within the layers, as the elastic energy due to the curvature and as the tension energy due to the edge, and to account for the kinetics of the bending phenomenon. An algorithm to solve the model equations was designed and the relative calculation code was written. A dedicated preparation protocol, which involves active periods during which the energy is supplied and passive periods during which the energy supply is set to zero, was defined and applied. The model predictions compare well with the experimental results, by using the energy supply rate and the time constant as fitting parameters. Working with liposomes of different sizes as the starting point of the experiments, the key parameter is the ratio between the energy supply rate and the initial surface area.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bochicchio2014,

title = {Liposomes as siRNA Delivery Vectors},

author = {Sabrina Bochicchio and Annalisa Dalmoro and Anna Angela Barba and Gabriele Grassi and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://www.eurekaselect.com/128256/article},

doi = {10.2174/1389200216666150206124913},

issn = {1389-2002},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-01-01},

journal = {Current drug metabolism},

volume = {15},

number = {9},

pages = {882--892},

publisher = {Bentham Science Publishers},

abstract = {Nucleic Acid Based Drugs (NABDs) constitute a class of promising and powerful therapeutic new agents with limited side effects, potentially useable against a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Among them, the short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), represent very effective molecules. Despite their in vitro efficacy, the major drawback that limits siRNAs usage consists in a difficult delivery due to their very low stability in physiological fluids, and to their limited membrane-permeability through physiological barriers. On the other hand, the liposomes (lipid bilayers closed in vesicles of various sizes) represent interesting drug delivery systems (DDSs) which can be tailored in order to get the best performance in terms of load, vesicle size and transfection yield. In this work, the current state of study in these two fields, and the connections between them, are briefly summarized.},

keywords = {Drug Delivery Systems, liposome, Micro and Nano Vectors, siRNA},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Barba2013b,

title = {In vitro dissolution of pH sensitive microparticles for colon-specific drug delivery},

author = { Anna Angela Barba and Annalisa Dalmoro and Matteo D'Amore and Gaetano Lamberti},

url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/10837450.2012.727005},

doi = {10.3109/10837450.2012.727005},

issn = {1083-7450},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-12-01},

journal = {Pharmaceutical Development and Technology},

volume = {18},

number = {6},

pages = {1399--1406},

publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},

abstract = {Objective: The objective of this work is to prepare oral dosage systems based on enteric materials in order to verify their possible use as Colon-Specific Drug Delivery Systems (CSDDSs). Methodology: In particular, three different copolymers of methyl-methacrylate (MMA) - acrylic acid (AA) are synthesized with increasing percentage of MMA (from 70% to 73%) and they are used to produce microparticles by the double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The microparticles, loaded using theophylline as model drug, are then tested for drug release under varying pH to reproduce what happens in the human GI tract.Results: All the investigated systems have shown an effective pH sensitiveness: they show a good gastro-resistance, releasing the model drug only at higher pH, small intestine or colon, depending on the kind of used copolymer. Conclusion: The results confirm the usefulness of both the materials and the methods proposed in this study for colon-specific delivery applications.},

keywords = {Micro and Nano Vectors},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}